Cervical harness

ABSTRACT

A head halter or cervical harness employs a rigid U-shaped member which extends from in front of the mouth to locations over the ears of the user. A mouthpiece fixed to the rigid member extends into the mouth and contacts the rear molars or, in the absence of teeth, the posterior portion of the upper mandible. Spaced pads fixed on the rigid member contact outer surfaces of the cheeks. A flexible sling extends between the ends of the rigid member and under the rear portion of the head, and a bail applies vertical force to the ends of the rigid member and the ends of the sling. Side straps hold the sling against displacement.

United States Patent [191 Heikes" June 4, 1974 CERVICAL HARNESS 22 Filed: Jan. 26, 1973 21 Appl. No.: 326,963

[52] us. Cl. 128/75 32/14 D [51] Int. Cl A6lh 1/02 7 [58] Field of Search 128/75, 76, 87, 84; 32/14 D [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,151,458 3/1939 Allen l28/76-R X 2,334,894 [1/1943 2,574,282 ll/l95l 2,843,114 7/l958 2,855,202 10/1958 2,880,509 4/l959' 2,983,046

3,203,099 8/l965 lnterlandi 32/14 D Primary Examiner-Richard A. Gaudet Assistant Examiner-J. Yasko Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Lyon & Lyon 5 7 1 ABSTRACT A head halter or cervical harness employs a rigid U- shaped member which extends from in front of the mouth to locations over the ears of the user. A mouthpiece fixed to the rigid member extends into the mouth and contacts the rear molars or, in the absence of teeth, the posterior portion of the upper mandible. Spaced pads fixed on the rigid member contact outer surfaces of the cheeks. A flexible sling extends between the ends of the rigid member and under the rear portion of the head, and a bail applies vertical force to the ends of the rigid member and the ends of the sling. Side straps hold the sling against displacement.

5 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures 1 CERVICAL HARNESS This invention relates to an orthopedic traction device known as a head halter or cervical harness. Its purpose is to afford a means of applying tension forces to the spinal vertebrae. An important object of this invention is to provide a traction device of this type which is more comfortable to the user than other devices now available for the same use. In conventional devices employing a sling under the chin and another sling under the rear portion of the head, the flesh of the face is distorted, compressing and deforming the soft tissues and muscles of the face. This quickly results in strain and and '13 at the ends of the member 11. A metal bail 21 extends over the top of the head of the user and has end fatigue as well as. pain due to muscle spasm. After a I short time, generally not more than one-half hour, the discomfort may become unbearable and with only a moderate traction force. Such a muscle spasm is selfdefeating, since it tends to prevent the degree of relaxation necessary for effective treatment.

The apparatus of the present invention does not employ a sling under the chin and the only contact with the outer surface of the face of the user is by two spaced cheek pads which are carried on a rigid U" shaped member extending from a location in front of the mouth to locations over the ears. A mouthpiece fixed to'the rigid memberbetween the supports for the cheek pads extends into. the mouth and has portions adapted to contact the rear molars, or in the absence of teeth, to contact posterior portions of the upper mandible. A sling extends between the ends of the rigid member and underlies a portion of the head. A bail extending over the head applies vertical tension force to the ends of the rigid member and to the ends of the sling. The cheek pads limit the extent to which the mouthpiece may move into the mouth. Straps. extend from the forward portion of the U-shaped rigid member to the sling to prevent displacement of the sling.

Other and more detailed objects and advantages will appear hereinafter.

In the drawings:

FIG. I is a side elevation showing a preferred embodiment of this invention, as applied to the head of a user. I

FIG. 2 is a top plan view showing the front portion of the device, the upper teeth of the user being shown in dotted lines.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the device.

Referring to the drawings, the cervical harness generally designated includes a Ushaped rigid member 11 preferably formed of metal rod. Loops 12 and 13 are formed at the ends of the rigid member 11. A mouthpiece 14 is rigidly attached by welding or brazing to the U-shaped member 11 and is positioned to project into the mouth of the user. Non-metallic blocks 15 carried on the mouthpiece are positioned to contact the rear molars, or in the absence of teeth, to contact the posterior portion of the upper mandible.

Spaced pads 16 are carried on supports 17 fixed to the member 11 by welding or brazing. These pads engage the outer surface of the front portion of the cheeks of the user to limit the extent to which the mouthpiece 14 may move into the mouth. The rigid U- shaped member 11, mouthpiece l4 and pad supports 17 are preferably formed of stainless steel.

A padded sling 19 is secured to the end loops l2 and 13 of the member 11 and this sling 19 extends under the rear portion of the head of the user. Metal rings 20 loops 22 which engage the end loops l2 and 13 of the rigid member I]. The bail 21 is used to apply an upward tension force to the ends of the rigid member 11 and to the ends of the padded sling 19. This upward force is applied to the cranium through the blocks 15 to the upper mandible and through the padded sling 19 to the base of the skull.

Adjustable straps 23 and 24 are fixed to the padded sling l9 and extend to hook elements 25 fixed to the U- shaped rigid member 11. These straps 23 and 24 prevent displacement of the sling 19 from its position below the rear portion of the skull.

It will be observed that the face of the user is touched by the device only at the locations of contact by the cheek pads 16, andpossibly by portions of the straps 23 and 24. However, much ,of the discomfort associated with cranial harness devices of conventional type is eliminated because there are no objectionable heavy loads applied to the chin and face of the user.

It will be understood that the term posterior portions of the upper mandible includes but is not limited to the presence of rear molars.

Having fully described my invention, it is to be under.- stood that I am not to be limited to the details herein set forth but that my invention is of the full scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a cervical harness, the combination of a rigid member adapted'to extend from a location immediately in front of the mouth to locations near the ears of a user, a mouthpiece fixed to said member and having portions adapted for reception into the mouth to contact posterior portions of the upper mandible, pad means mounted on said rigid member and adapted to contact the face of the user in the region of the upper jaw to limit movement of the mouthpiece into the mouth, a flexible sling extending between portions of the rigid member and adapted to underlie a portion of the rear of the head, and suspension means joined to the ends of the rigid member.

2. In a cervical harness,the combination of: a U- shaped rigid member adapted to extend from a location in front of the mouth to locations over the ears of a user, a mouthpiece fixed to said member for reception into the mouth and having portions adapted to contact posterior portions of the upper mandible, a pair of spaced pads fixed to said rigid member and adapted to contact the outer surfaces of the cheeks, a flexible sling extending between the ends of the rigid member and adapted to underlie a portion of the rear of the head, and suspension means joined to the ends of the rigid member and to the ends of the sling.

3. The combination set forth in claim 2 in which straps extend from the rigid member to prevent displacement of the sling.

4. The combination as set forth in claim 1, in which the suspending means is a bail connected to both ends of the rigid member and a central support for the bail.

5. In a cervical harness, the combination of a rigid member having a front portion adapted to be disposed contiguous to the front of the users mouth and side portions at opposite sides of the users head, above the ears; a mouthpiece fixed to the rigid member and divided for reception under the rear side portions of the users upper mandible, means adapted tocontact the users upper jaw ad acent the mouth limiting movement of the mouthpiece into the users mouth; a sling having a central portion underlying the rear of the users'head and end portions attached to the side portions of the rigid member; and means for applying a suspension force to the side portions of the rigid member. 

1. In a cervical harness, the combination of a rigid member adapted to extend from a location immediately in front of the mouth to locations near the ears of a user, a mouthpiece fixed to said member and having portions adapted for reception into the mouth to contact posterior portions of the upper mandible, pad means mounted on said rigid member and adapted to contact the face of the user in the region of the upper jaw to limit movement of the mouthpiece into the mouth, a flexible sling extending between portions of the rigid member and adapted to underlie a portion of the rear of the head, and suspension means joined to the ends of the rigid member.
 2. In a cervical harness, the combination of: a U-shaped rigid member adapted to extend from a location in front of the mouth to locations over the ears of a user, a mouthpiece fixed to said member for reception into the mouth and having portions adapted to contact posterior portions of the upper mandible, a pair of spaced pads fixed to said rigid member and adapted to contact the outer surfaces of the cheeks, a flexible sling extending between the ends of the rigid member and adapted to underlie a portion of the rear of the head, and suspension means joined to the ends of the rigid member and to the ends of the sling.
 3. The combination set forth in claim 2 in which straps extend from the rigid member to prevent displacement of the sling.
 4. The combination as set forth in claim 1, in which the suspending means is a bail connected to both ends of the rigid member and a central support for the bail.
 5. In a cervical harness, the combination of a rigid member having a front portion adapted to be disposed contiguous to the front of the user''s mouth and side portions at opposite sides of the user''s head, above the ears; a mouthpiece fixed to the rigid member and divided for reception under the rear side portions of the user''s upper mandible, means adApted to contact the user''s upper jaw adjacent the mouth limiting movement of the mouthpiece into the user''s mouth; a sling having a central portion underlying the rear of the user''s head and end portions attached to the side portions of the rigid member; and means for applying a suspension force to the side portions of the rigid member. 